Tye-writer.



No. 791,420. PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

F. W. BILLARD. I TYPE WRITER.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov.1o, 1896.

illnesses. y g Wm I Inventor l' UNITED STATES Patented May 3o, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE..

TYPE-WRITER.

SEIECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,420, dated May 30,1905.

Original application filed January 9, 1893,A Serial No. 457,800. Dividedand this application filed November 10, 1896. Serial No. 611,607. l

To a/Z' whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, FREDERIC W. HIL- LARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Tottenville, county of Richmond, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inType-Writers, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. L157,800,filed January 9, 1893, on which has issued Patent No. 580 ,281 datedApril 6, 1897.

My present invention is. an improvement in type-writing machines, andrelates to lineloeks, or, in other words, to the mechanism whereby thekeys are automatically locked at a predetermined point in the line oflprint to notify the operator of the approach of the end of the line andto prevent him from printing letters one over the other at the end ofthe line.

' My invention relates, first, to animprovement in the line-lock itself,and, second, to

' means for releasing'the keys and the escapement from the line-lock toprint an additional letter orletters beyond the lockingjoint in theline.'

The improvement in the line-lock itself comprises mechanism whereby thearrival of the carriage at the predetermined point in the lineautomatically locks the keys, so as to prevent printing without anyindependent movement of the line-lock. In certain linelocks heretoforeinvented an independent movement in the line-lock has been necessary tolock the keys and prevent printing. Hence in such former constructionsit has been necessary to move the partsin'the linelock out of theirnormal positions into their locking positions in order to lock the keys.In the construction used by me, on the contrary, the keys are looked bythe arrival of the carriage at the predetermined lockingpoint withoutany independent movement of the line-lock and while the line-lock is inits normal position of rest. Hence in this construction the keys can belocked to prevent printing without the expenditure of any force,whatever beyond that required to advance the carriage to thepredetermined locking-point, while in the former constructions referredto the force necessary to ad- `vance the carriage to the locking-pointis necessary, together with the additional force necessary to move apart of the line-lock from its normal position into its lockingposition. Hence this feature of my invention, which consists in certainfeatures of construction of the line-lock, results in a substantialsaving of power.

My im rovement for releasing the keys from the ine-lock to print anadditional letter or letters beyond the locking-point comprises anindependent key for the purpose. By an independent key I mean a keyhaving an operative connection with the linelock when the line-lockis inits obstructive position and meansoperated by the key for independentlymoving the line-lock out 'of its obstructive position. In certainlinelocks heretofore invented means have been provided for unlocking theline-lock for printing additional letters; but such means have notincluded an independent key for the purpose. For example, line-lockshave been invented in type-writers provided with papercarriages whichare shifted from one printingcenter to another to print lower-caseletters and upper-case letters in which the locking device is on thecarriage and is operative when thecarriage is in position for printinglower-case letters, but is inoperative when the carriage is in itsshifted position for printing capital letters. In this construction,therefore, when the line-lock is in its obstructive position theshifting of the carriage from lower case to upper case removes theobstruction in the line-lock and releases the riage. The advantage of anindependent line-lock-release key is that it performs its officeindependently and without the performance of any other essentialfunction, and

hence can always be relied on to perform its f office correctly andaccurately. On the other hand, any key excepting an independentlinelock-release key is uncertain and unreliable. For instance, the keyin the construction referred to can only release the line-lock byshifting the carriage, and therefore if for any reason the carriagecannot be shifted the key cannot release the line-lock, while7 on theother hand, if the key is depressed to print capitals before theline-lock has been obstructed the line-lock fails to work at all, withthe result that the operator is deceived and in danger of printingletters one over the other at the end of the line because of the failureof the line-lock to obstruct the keys. An independentline-lock-releasing key, therefore, Within the meaning of thisspecification is a key which when performing its function ofa line-lockreleaser 1s incapablae of performing any other function in the operationof writing-i. e., at the time stated performs no function in printing orcausing one type insteadv of another to print This feature of myinvention consists in certain novel features in the construction of theindependent linelock-release key, andV in so far as such novel' featuresare concerned I do not wish to limit myself' to any particular form ofline-lock, but wish it to be understood that they are applicable withany of the various forms of line-lock known in the art.

In the accompanyincr drawings I show two examples of independentline-lock-release keys, one being mounted on the carriage and the otherin the keyboard.

My invention further consists inA the combination of the two featuresabove desighated-viz., in the construction. of a line-lock which ismoved out of normal position by a movement of a spaced part to preventfurther movement of such parts and an independent key for removing suchline-lock out of its obstructive position.

It, moreover, consists of a stop forming a part of the line-lock andcarried by a moving part and an independent key conveniently mounted ona part of the machine other than the part carrying the stop and meansfor transmitting motion from the key to the moving stopk to release theline-lock.

It further consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts, as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,the general form of machine shown is the Remington type-writer; but askilled mechanic will readily apply my invention to any style oftype-writing machine.

vFigure 1 is a back view of the type-writer,

showing such parts as are necessary to illustrate my line lock. The rearof the top plate is broken away at X X to more clearly show therelease-lever for the line-lock. Fig. 2,is a sectional view of thetype-writer with the frame cut away on the line Y Y of Fig. 1.

Mounted on the top plate 1 is the carriage 2, which is supported andmovable endwise upon the front rail 3 and the rear rail 4. Thespring-barrel 5 is connected with the carriage by a connecting-band andcontains the mainspring, which constantly tends to draw the carriagefrom the left end of the rails to the right end, (viewing the machinefrom the rear.) At the rear of the carriage the rackframe 6 and the rack7 are mounted. The rack may be pivoted to the carriage, as is shown anddescribed in my said Patent No.

. 580,281 and in my United States Patent No.

554,874, dated February 18, 1896, in Fig. 1 thereof, or it may beotherwise attached to the carriage or o ieratively connected therewithby any of the various means known to the art, since the particular formof escapement used is immaterial and constitutes no part of'thisinvention. I have herein shown only such parts of the escapement as arenecessary to properly illustrate my invention. Depending from the rearof the topplate are the brackets 8 and 9, between whichthe dogcarryingrocker-frame 1() is pivoted. The rocker-frame carries theindependently-pivoted dog 11, which normally engages with the rack, andthe detaining-dog 12, which is normally disengaged. At the base of therocker-frame and extending horizontally toward the front of the machineis the arm 13, to which is attached the cross-bar 14. The cross-bar isattached by the connecting-wires 15 15 to the universal bar 16, whichpasses under all of the key-levers 17. The key-levers are in turn cachconnected by a wire 18 to the corresponding type-bars 19 19. Then akey-lever is depressed, the corresponding type-bar is'vibrated to theplaten 20 to print, and simultaneously the spacing-dog 1 1 is disengagedfrom the rack 7 and the detainingdog 12 engaged therewith. Upon therelease of the keythe type-bar falls back to its normal position, the sacing-dog' is rengaged with the rack, and t ie carriage moves forwardone space under the impulse of the mainspring. All of these parts are ofthe ordinary construction and operate in the usual manner.

On the upper end of the dog-carrying branch of the rocker-frame is thearm 21, which passes up above the rack-teeth and stands at the rear ofthe rack. The arm 21 normally stands at some distance back of therack-bar. Upon depression of a key it is rocked in toward the rack-bar,but need not be rocked far enough to strike the rack. Mounted at theextreme left of the rack-bar is the line-lock lever 22. This lever ispivoted upon the stud 23 and can be vibrated lOO llO

lock end drops down, tilting the key upward. The pin 26 limits thedownward movement.

of the line-lock stop and holds the lever in its o normal position. Whenthe carriage has been advanced sufficiently to bring the linelock stop24 into an obstructive positon between therack 7 and the arm21 on therockerframe, the forward vibration of the rockerframe is prevented.While the line -lock parts are in this position the spacing-dog cannotbe disengaged from the rack by the stroke on the keys, the type-keyscannot be depressed, and the type-bars cannot'be moved :o to the platento rint. By depressing the key 25, however, t e line-lock stop 24 can betilted up above the arm 21. The type-keys can then be depressed, thetype-bars moved to the platen, and the spacing of the carriage :5effected. g

I have also provided a more convenient means for tilting the line-lockstop up out of its obstructive position to unlock the typekeys. At theleft-hand end ofthe top bank ;o of keys (looking at the machine from therear) is the independent line-lock-release key 27, mounted on the frontend of the keylever 28 and normally free from and out of engagement withthe carriage. The key-le- 5 5 ver 28 is piv'oted on the rib 29 of themachineframe and is normallyheld up by the spring 30. Extending from thekey-lever 28 is the wire 31, which connects one end of the keylever withthe line-lock-tripping lever 32. 4o The release-lever 32 is pivoted tothe top plate 1 by the stud 33. The opposite end of the release-leverprojects upwardly a little to the left of the rocker-frame. lock stop 24is in position to obstruct the rocker-frame stop 21, its interfering endis immediately above the upwardly-extending end of the release-lever 32.On depression of the key 27 the release-lever 32 is actuated, and theline-lock stop24 is thereby tilted up 5o out of the path of the arm 21.The type-keys can then be depressed and the carriage spaced forwarduntil the end lof the line is reached. 1

In the construction which I showV the line- 5 5 lock lever 22 is pivotedon the carriage and tne stop-arm 21 .is mounted on the rocker- Aframe.It is ofcourse obvious that the positions of these two parts may bereversed, the

line-lock lever being pivoted on the rocker-- 6o frame and the fixedstop on the carriage, the one construction being the mechanica-lequivalent of the other. Furthermore, it is obviously not essential thateither of the stops be directly attached to the carriage, as there areseveral parts in type-writing ma- When the linechines which are attachedto or otherwise operatively connected vwith the carriage and which movein conjunction'with the carriage. One of the line-lock stops maybemounted on either of these parts, and in the various typewriters in useit has been found convenient to locate the ,stop in a great variety ofplaces.

Thus, for example, in the United States Patent to A. T. Brown, No.465,451, dated December 22, 1891, the stop is mounted on the barrel forthe spring which drives the carriage, where it revolves with thespring-barrel as the carriage is advanced until the stop is brought intoposition for obstructing the escapement. It is also obvious that myinvention is of wide application and that the details which I show maybe considerably altered lin the various forms of type-writing machineswithout departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do notlimit myself to the details shown, and particularly N,

I do not limit myself to combining my linelock or my release-key withany particular form of spacing mechanism.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writer line-lock the combination of two movable stops whosepathsare transverse of one another and intersect one another, wherebywhen the two -stops are both brought to the intersecting point in theirpaths one of the sto s hits the other,

and means including an in ependent key for positively removing one ofthe stops out of the path of the other stop, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writing machine the combination in an escapement of arocker-frame, a stop, means for moving the stop into position toobstruct the rocker-frame at a predetermined point, and means includingan independent key for positively removing the stop out of the path ofthe rocker-frame, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writing machine the combination of an escapement, acarriage, a movable stop mounted on the carriage and advanced with thecarriage into position to obstruct the escapement at a predeterminedpoint, an independent key normally free from the carriage and meanscontrolled thereby forpositively removing the stop out of itsobstructive position, substantially as described.

4. In a type-writing machine the combination of a rocker-frame whichforms a part of the escapement, a line-lock stop on the rocker-frame, acarriage, a line-lock lever pivoted on the carriage and advanced therebyinto position to obstruct the line-lock stop on the rocker-frame at apredetermined point, a key and means o erated thereby for positivelyremoving the ine-lock lever out of the path of the line-lock stop,substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

stop on one end and a release-key on the opposite end, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a type-writer line-lock the combination of two stops, one of thestops being mounted on apart moving with the carriage, the two stopsbeing so positioned that upon the movement of the carriage, thecarriagestop is brought into position to obstruct the other stop whileboth the stops are in their normal positions, an independent key, andmeans operated by the key for moving one of the stops out of its normalposition to release the line-lock, substantially as described.

7. In a type-writing machine the combination of spacing mechanism, acarriage, a stop attached to the spacing mechanism and moving therewith,a stop mounted on a part moving with the carriage and advanced therewithinto the path of the stop in the spacing mechanism whereby the stop inthe spacing mechanism is obstructed by the said stop which is advancedwith the carriage, a key, and means operated by the key for moving thesaid stop which is advanced with the carriage out of the path of thespacingmechanism stop to release the spacing mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

8. In atype-writer line-lock the combination of two stops, one of whichis mounted in the escapement and movable therewith and the other ofwhich is moved with the carriage into position to obstruct theescapementstop, a key, a line-lock releaser, and a connection betweenthe key and the line-lock releaser whereby the releaser is controlled bythe key, substantially as described.

9. In a type-writer line-lock the combination of two stops, one of which21 is mounted on the escapement rocker-frame 10, and movable therewith,and the other of which 24 is mounted on the carriage and is advancedthereby into position to obstruct the rockerframe stop, a key 27, aline-lock releaser 32, and aconnection between the key and the linelockreleaser whereby the releaser is controlled by the key, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a type-writer, the combination with a power-driven part and akey-driven part, of a stop movable on one of the said parts and broughtby the movement of the parts into position to obstruct such movements ofthe parts, an independent key norm ally free from the part carrying thestop and means controlled thereby for positively removing the sto out ofits obstructive position, substantially as described.

11. In a type-writer, the combination with a power-driven carriage, of apower-driven stop and a key-driven stop, brought into obstructiveposition with each other on the movement of the carriage, an independentkey normally free from the carriage and means controlled thereby forpositively removing the power-driven stop from its obstructive position,substantially as described.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an escapementmechanism, of a stop moved by the carriage into position to arrest themovement of the escapement mechanism, an independent key normally freefrom the carriage and means controlled thereby for positively removingthe stop from its obstructive position, substantially as described.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination oi' a carriage, spacingmechanism, a stop brought into position by the movement of the carriageto arrest the spacing mechanism and a line-lock-release key mounted ou.the carriage and operatively connected with said stop whereby the stopis positively disengaged from said spacing mechanism to permit iiurthermovement of the carriage, substantially as described.

14. In a type-writing machine the combination of an escapement, acarriage, a stop, means for advancing the carriage and for therebymoving the stop into position to obstruct the escapement at apredetermined point, and means including a key mounted on the carriagefor removing the stop out of its obstructive position, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a type-writer line-lock the combination of an escapement, twostops, one ofi which is mounted to be moved with the carriage intoposition to obstruct the other, z. key, a lineelock releaser and aconnection between the key and the line-lock releaser whereby thereleaser is operated by the key, substantially as described.

Signed by me in New York city this 0th day of November, 1896.

FREDERIC IV. I'IILLARD.

Witnesses SAMUEL W. BALCH, J. M. MAY.

